Results 5,121-5,140 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (18 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 156, 157 and 158 together. As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, launched by my Department in October 2011, local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows: Category one, where the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested in the question is not currently available in my Department. In general, the suitability or otherwise of the units involved for social housing has not yet been determined. Inspections will be carried out for properties that are to become the subject of lease or purchase arrangements prior to the signing of the legal agreements.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: By the end of December, 2011 2,496 housing units were provided under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative as follows: Leasing units operational Year 2009 2010 2011 Total Units 437 866 1,193 2,496 The current average annual cost of all units is €6,327. The average cost for units leased from the private or voluntary sector is €7,406. The cost of unsold affordable units is based in...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (18 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department does not hold information on the number of households on local authorities' waiting lists. This figure continuously fluctuates as households are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. Detailed information on the latest statutory assessment of housing need carried out in March 2011, including a breakdown by housing authority, is available on my...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (18 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Data on Local Authority housing stock, broken down by county, city, borough and town council, are available on my Department's website, www.environ.ie and the most recent data published in this regard relate to 2010. A breakdown of the number of bedrooms in each unit is not available. 2011 data are not available yet.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (18 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The adoption of individual development contribution schemes is a reserved function of the elected members of each planning authority. It is a matter for the members to determine the level of contribution and the types of development to which they apply. In addition to the legislative framework my Department has also issued policy guidance on development contributions. Further draft guidance...

Mortgage Arrears (19 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy Ellis for raising this very important matter. I share, as does the Government, his concern about the many people in our society who are in difficulty with their mortgages. The Government is acutely conscious of the difficulties many households are facing in terms of mortgage arrears. In October 2011 we published the report of the inter departmental working group on mortgage...

Mortgage Arrears (19 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The first advice, which is what we all give, is that people should engage with their lender as early as they can. Similarly, the lending institutions need to engage. I wish to be clear about that. We want local authorities to be proactive and to engage with people when they are in difficulties before they are at the point of being on the street, as the Deputy observed. The new measures...

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The list of housing developments which have been designated eligible for a waiver from the household charge were extracted from the National Housing Survey 2011, having regard to the categorisation of estates by local authorities under the Unfinished Housing Developments Public Safety Initiative. This list is set out under the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012. All...

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (19 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The enforcement of the conditions attached to a planning permission is a matter for the relevant planning authority and I have no role in the matter. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned,...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (19 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under my Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities were allocated capital funding in 2011 in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock. The programme included a retrofitting measure aimed at improving the energy efficiency of older apartments and houses by reducing heat loss through the fabric of the...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (19 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The statutory process of filling a number of the current vacancies on the Board is now underway and I expect to make the first of the new appointments shortly. I will be taking into account, when appointing new board members, the balance of skill sets and expertise required at Board level for the effective discharge of An Bord Pleanala's complex and wide ranging functions.

Written Answers — Local Authority Charges: Local Authority Charges (19 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: The list of housing developments which have been designated eligible for a waiver from the household charge was extracted from the National Housing Survey 2011, having regard to the categorisation of estates by local authorities under the Unfinished Housing Developments Public Safety Initiative. This list is set out under the Local Government (Household Charge) Regulations 2012. My...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (24 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 421, 422 and 426 together. Information on individual properties is commercially and legally sensitive and has not been released to my Department. The Housing Agency is working with NAMA and local authorities to determine demand and to match this with the properties identified by NAMA as potentially suitable. The exercise of matching demand and inspecting...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (24 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 445, 456, 457, 462 and 465 together. As part of the process of preparing the National Housing Development Survey 2011, launched by my Department in October 2011, local authorities provided details of all unfinished housing developments in their areas. Unfinished housing developments were divided into four categories as follows: Category one, where the...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (24 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: In order to determine the capital allocations for 2012, my Department requested local authorities to submit details of their funding requirements under the grant schemes by 20 January, 2012. The information received is being examined at present with a view to announcing the allocations as soon as possible. It is not envisaged that there will be any change to the 80% recoupment rate which...

Written Answers — Derelict Sites: Derelict Sites (24 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 23 of the Derelict Site Act 1990 provides that a levy may be charged by a local authority on any urban land which is entered on the derelict site register and in respect of which a market value has been determined. This levy must be paid by the owner of the urban land to the local authority in whose functional area the land is situated. The levy is payable until the dereliction...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (24 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: Following a request for additional information in regard to this project, a submission was received from Longford County Council on 11 January 2012. The documentation is currently being considered with a view to approving the Council's request to prepare contract documents and to advance the project to tender stage.

Written Answers — Environmental Issues: Environmental Issues (24 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have no function in relation to the matter raised in the Question. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2010, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála is or may be concerned. Question No. 451 answered with Question No. 442. Questions Nos. 452 and 453...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Jan 2012)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department understands that Dublin City Council will be implementing an interest rate cut of 0.25% from 1 February 2012 for all variable loans; a further rate cut of 0.25% is scheduled to be implemented on 1 April 2012. It is understood that the Council's Loan Accounts Section is required to contact all 3,000 borrowers regarding changes to rates and new instalments. Borrowers with Direct...